Ben Affleck has reportedly signed on to write and direct an adaptation of The Big Goodbye, a behind-the-scenes story about the making of the classic film Chinatown. Affleck was last seen in the sports drama The Way Back, which earned the actor some of the best reviews of his career and currently sits at a fresh 83 percent critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. He will also be starring in the period drama The Last Duel, which will be directed by Ridley Scott and recently had its release date pushed to October 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Chinatown, which was released in 1974, followed a private detective named J.J. Gittes (Jack Nicholson), who is hired to expose a possible adulterer and ends up getting caught in a web of corruption, deceit, and murder. The film was directed by Roman Polanski and starred Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, Perry Lopez, John Hillerman, and Darrell Zwerling. The film is considered to be one of the best film noir movies of all time, having cemented itself as a classic in the decades since its release. There are plenty of behind-the-scenes facts about Chinatown that have already been unveiled. Still, Affleck has a signed on to direct an adaptation of a novel that will shed light on even more information about the film's journey to the silver screen.
It has been reported by Deadline that Ben Affleck has signed on to write and direct an adaptation of The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood.., a book written by Sam Wasson. The novel delves into the behind-the-scenes story revolving around the making of Chinatown and how Hollywood changed in the years following its release. Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels will be producing the movie along with Affleck.
The Big Goodbye will mark Affleck's first directorial project since 2016's Live By Night, a film that was met with a lukewarm reception from fans and critics alike, suffering a $75 million loss that poured salt on the wound. Before Live By Night, Affleck had directed a handful of beloved dramas, including Gone Baby Gone, The Town, and Argo, which earned Affleck rave reviews and, ultimately, the Academy Award for best picture. Affleck had been set to direct his own standalone Batman film, but eventually the project fell through, and he passed the cowl to Robert Pattinson.
Ben Affleck has proven to be a highly capable and versatile director since his debut with Gone Baby Gone. He has dipped his toes in a wide array of genres, showcasing his unique talents behind the camera. Affleck's abilities are ideally suited for a project like this, especially since his films have taken place in different periods proving his knack for compelling world-building and immersion. The film will undoubtedly draw comparisons to David Fincher's upcoming Mank, which will detail the making of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane, but it shouldn't have a problem standing on its own two feet. If Affleck and this material prove to be the complementary combination they appear on paper The Big Goodbye could turn out to be something extraordinary.
Source: Deadline